DIN L-ART ĦELWA LAUNCHES ‘INTO PLACES’ RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIP SCHEME
On the occasion of World Heritage Day, 18 April, Din l-Art Ħelwa will join the International National Trusts Organisation to launch a world-wide reciprocal visiting scheme. Under this scheme, 32 National Trusts in 24 countries will collaborate so individual members of participating trusts can visit their heritage sites free of charge. Din l-Art Helwa is a founding member of INTO. On presentation of a Din l-Art Ħelwa membership card, members will be able to visit over 1000 historic properties at no or reduced charge in England, Scotland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and a host of other countries as far away as Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Of particular interest to Din l-Art Ħelwa members is access to National Trust properties in England and Scotland including national parks, stately homes, fortresses and historical buildings and to the exceptional heritage sites managed by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano in Italy.
Membership cards of all participating trusts will display the INTO logo to facilitate this. The scheme is an exciting new step taken by INTO and organisations like Din l-Art Ħelwa to encourage public interest in heritage and places of natural beauty and co-operation between national trusts around the world. More trusts are expected to join the scheme in due course.
So, for those who are travelling, stated Din l-Art Ħelwa, it is important to look up the INTO website on https://www.into.org/places/ and check out Places to Visit. Members of Din l-Art Ħelwa are reminded to take their membership card with them which has now become a passport to heritage sites around the world at no cost.
Professor Alex Torpiano, Executive President of Din l-Art Ħelwa said: ‘The launch of the International ‘INTO Places’ reciprocal visiting scheme comes at an excellent time after two years of difficulty for the sector. By providing further accessibility of historic sites and places of natural beauty around the world through free or reduced admission, Din l-Art Ħelwa and reciprocal international members can enjoy the benefits of this scheme. We hope more persons will be attracted to take up membership with Din l-Art Ħelwa and promote this important reciprocity.’
LIST OF PARTICIPATING TRUSTS
Badan Warisan Malaysia
Czech National Trust
Din l-Art Helwa – National Trust of Malta
Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen – Netherlands
Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) – Italy
Herita – Belgium
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Kulturerbe Bayern – Germany
Manx National Trust – Isle of Man
National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Barbados
National Trust for Canada
National Trust for the Cayman Islands
National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
National Trust Guernsey
National Trust for Ireland – An Taisce
National Trust of Korea
National Trust Jersey
National Trust for Scotland
National Trust of Slovakia
National Trust of Tasmania
National Trust of Zimbabwe
Pro Patrimonio Foundation – Rumania
About the International National Trusts Organization
INTO is a diverse network of heritage organisations from across the globe. 85 members in 65 countries. It is united by a common approach to the conservation of world heritage – built and natural, tangible and intangible.
It facilitates the exchange of expertise, promotes best practice and shares resources to increase global capacity for heritage protection. It uses its shared knowledge to support new trusts to grow, and lends its voice to key discussions in the heritage sector.
Din l-Art Ħelwa has been involved with INTO since its inception some 15 years ago. Indeed, it was involved, through its then president Martin Scicluna in the steering committee which was charting its foundation, guided by the National Trust of England and Wales. Since then, Din l-Art Ħelwa has remained an active member and has retained a seat on the Board of Trustees through Simone Mizzi and now Martin Galea.
Din l-Art Ħelwa has recently benefited from the INTO COVID scheme launched by the charity to help trusts through the pandemic as well as through exchange visits organized by Union Rempart. More recently they organized a field trip with one of the National Trust conservation experts for the Torri tal-Qbajjar project in Marsalforn.
It also organizes exchanges of information and best practice through conferences, lectures, workshops, exchanges and mentoring.
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